To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2017 to Question 191916 on research: finance, how the Government plans to protect R&D funding after the end of the implementation period.

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities would continue to participate in EU programmes as if the UK were an EU Member State for the remainder of this Multi-Year Financial Framework (MFF). This means that UK organisations will be able to continue to secure EU research funding during the implementation period, including funding beyond the end of 2020 where projects stretch beyond this period. If we leave the EU without a deal, HMG has guaranteed payment of awards where: UK entities have successfully bid into EU programmes whilst we remain in the EU, for the lifetime of the project; and where UK entities successfully bid as a third country entity until the end of 2020, for the lifetime of the project. This includes the tail of funding where projects stretch beyond the end of 2020.

Participation in programmes post-2020, and domestic R&D budgets post 19/20 will be considered at the Spending Review.